Liverpool’s players are put through their paces in training ahead of the United clash (Picture: Getty Images)

Liverpool welcome bitter rivals Manchester United to Anfield tonight, for the first of two legs of their Europa League round-of-16 tie.

Buoyed by a triumphant comeback victory at Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon, Jurgen Klopp’s Reds will be confident of securing a home win over a depleted United side.

Louis van Gaal is without the likes of Wayne Rooney, Jesse Lingard and Bastian Schweinsteiger, through injury and suspension.

Meanwhile, Klopp can build a strong side from a near full-strength squad, with only a handful of players out injured.

So how should Liverpool line up on Thursday night?

Marking his 28th birthday with a positive display between the sticks on Sunday, Simon Mignolet will be looking to continue his run of good form with another star turn in Europe.

The Belgian’s defence will be different to that fielded at Selhurst Park, however, with Jon Flanagan unavailable after being omitted from Klopp’s 25-man squad.

This should see Nathaniel Clyne return at right-back, and with both Dejan Lovren and Mamadou Sakho impressing at centre-back last time out, he will be joined by one of Liverpool’s strongest defensive pairings.

By proxy, Alberto Moreno should continue at left-back, with Brad Smith and Jose Enrique lacking either the experience or the quality required to thrive in an intense European atmosphere.

The phenomenal Emre Can shone once again at Selhurst Park, and the German will no doubt keep his place in midfield, and with Lucas Leiva injured, he should be joined by Jordan Henderson.

If Klopp keeps his favoured 4-2-3-1 shape for this clash, this two-man midfield can provide the perfect platform for a fluid, interchanging attacking line.

Jurgen Klopp is expected to pick an attacking side (Picture: Getty Images)

Philippe Coutinho started Sunday’s win on the substitutes’ bench, and will be well rested – and, seemingly, in top form, having impressed in his second-half cameo – for this encounter.

Joining Coutinho should be Brazilian countryman Roberto Firmino, who notched his eighth goal of the season on Sunday, making him Liverpool’s joint-top goalscorer for 2015/16.

With James Milner in disappointing form against Palace, capped by a sending off, the vice-captain should drop out to accommodate Coutinho, leaving Adam Lallana on Liverpool’s right flank.